Building Connections

Abstract

51(4) LRTSA s in past years, electronic journals pervaded all aspects of the serials literature in 2004 and 2005. Electronic journals were changing pricing models as well as management of and access to serials. Support and satisfaction with large, bundled collections of online journals diminished as librarians questioned their benefits and affect on collections. Librarians began looking at other pricing models, such as tiered pricing and open access. Managing and providing access to serials became more complicated, especially as the number of e-journals available to libraries grew. Typical print workflows did not work with online serials. Additional information, such as tracking subscriptions, licenses, URL changes, and title level coverage information, needs to be monitored. In response to those challenges, new serials management services and tools were developed and implemented by libraries. Some of those services assist in tracking coverage information, generating A to Z title lists, and providing MARC records. These services are changing the way serials are cataloged. Loading records has led to libraries changing their cataloging policies and is changing the responsibilities of serials catalogers.Although e-serials touch all aspects of serials literature, another topic frequently mentioned directly and indirectly is the relationship between libraries, publishers, and vendors.